Hamilton Super Wawa gets approved on Route 130

Hamilton’s planning board approved the future of a “super” Wawa on the corner of Route 130 and Crosswicks-Hamilton Road late Thursday night.

The war, which began earlier this year, against Hamilton residents to open the convenience store with 12 fueling stations began when a proximity law ordinance ended to move way for the business.

Then a lawsuit against the township and Mayor Yaede opened questions about traffic concerns and the legality removing the legal ordinance in favor of the new developers.

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But then the unions came forward and demanded Wawa employers to hire local employees rather than out-of-state employees to construct the project.

All these issues were ignited on Thursday’s meeting when a local gas station’s attorney, Michele Donato, marched to the podium addressing council on additional concerns related to unqualified storm water management and the lack of morning traffic analysis by the applicant.

“It worries me to know that they are not complying to the storm water management requirements because the size of the site isn’t required to,” Donato said.

Upon hearing nearly four hours of cross-examination, the board voted on approving the super Wawa on a few conditions. Developers would have to get rid of a left turn exiting on Crosswicks-Hamilton Road—transforming that exit into right turns only while exiting and entering. Other conditions included incorporating additional sketches that the board made to the developers’ original plan, these sketched included eliminating an existing driveway and complying to additional storm water requirements to avoid flooding.

After voting, the board appeared satisfied with Wawa’s application despite the public’s argument against it. This was the second time the planning board had met to reach a vote; the first meeting was held on July 11, but board members required more analysis on the application’s data.

Hamilton residents can appeal the board’s decision now that approval has been given to developers. The lawsuit against Hamilton township regarding the proximity law ordinance removal, which allowed Wawa to win the fight, is still pending.

A separate project to build a super Wawa on Route 33 has been put on hold.